Ideas Beyond Borders

IBB’s long range goal is to create the conditions for a new Middle East-inspired Enlightenment, and to do so by overcoming censorship and making forbidden content available.

IBB is now investing in order to become the leading source of information for young adults in the Middle East and North Africa who want to explore and engage with content about democracy, human rights, science, and pluralism. Having built the Bayt al Hikma 2.0 digital content engine, marketing program, and distribution network, IBB is now scaling its user base and will be ideally positioned to serve the MENA region's 150 million youth, create systemic changes in their knowledge and awareness, and create opportunities for successful social change.

IBB’s primary program strategies include:
Overcoming censorship and disinformation by creating, translating, publishing and promoting Enlightenment-oriented content from a deeply informed MENA perspective;
Building awareness and knowledge of the potential offered by a revived Middle East Enlightenment by utilizing an increasingly robust online social and website presence to engage followers and subscribers; and
Supporting a variety of on-the-ground efforts by individuals and institutions to bring MENA Enlightenment values to life, ultimately building a MENA-wide advocacy network.

IBB’s core competencies have resulted in a combined social following of 4.8 million in just three years, and the capability of engaging tens of millions of Arab youth online through its social platforms. IBB’s capabilities include:

- Core staff competency in communications and social media advertising for in-region youth in Arabic
- Creating and repackaging digital content to hyper-target MENA youth, including relevant and 'memeable' videos, graphics, and social media posts to communicate contentious or difficult-to-understand material
- Strong, direct relationships with MENA youth aged 15-29, primed for market research and data-collection
- Translation powerhouse with colloquial speakers in-region for a youth-to-youth translation model
- Depth of technical/topical expertise (e.g., sciences, engineering, social sciences, etc.) amongst our 40+ translators
- Strategic partnerships with experts, social influencers, and organizations across the MENA region with the proven ability to collaborate

IBB's primary online platform, Bayt al Hikma 2.0 (BAH2.0, has grown significantly in just two years:

* 67% growth in total content in 2020, including Wikipedia article translation, video and podcast creation, and book translation;

* Growth in (social media) engagement between one million in 2019 and more than 29 million in 2020;

* Views of IBB-translated Wikipedia content increased from one million in 2019 to more than 42 million in 2020 (source: Wikiviews);

*IBB's Stop the Spread public information campaign about COVID-19 engaged more than 30 million MENA youth with information about the virus, while also combating disinformation. IBB's companion humanitarian campaign distributed 145,500 masks and 756,000 meals to underserved communities in Iraq.